Nanotechnology weapons described in Jane’s
Those of you familar with military matters know that Jane’s is a respected source of information in that area. So even though an expensive subscripion is required to read the full article by Andew Oppenheimer, it’s worth taking a look at their free abstract posted on the topic of nanotech weapons.
Excerpt: “As with many technologies, the medical applications may be adapted for offensive purposes. Manipulation of biological and chemical agents using nanotechnologies could result in entirely new threats that might be harder to detect and counter than existing CBW [chemical and biological weapons]…Other nanotechnology-based weapons might emerge from otherwise benign fields such as law enforcement in the creation of ‘non-lethal weapons’ for riot control and other policing operations. Some of these are currently permitted under the Chemical Weapons Convention. New delivery mechanisms to make incapacitating substances target more selectively could be adapted to more lethal uses…”
This is not pleasant to contemplate, but folks, we need to do it anyway. If any of you can read the whole article, I’d appreciate a summary.
March 17th, 2006 at 5:37 AM
In case none of you know it, with humans, power corrupts. Any objective study of human history is proof of how corrupt humans have been, and still are! The more power humans attain through their sciences and technologies the more corrupt they become! Increasing power has led to increasing corruption, and no amount of legislation, or self-regulation, which is virtually impossible, is going to stop humans from using their sciences and technologies to do what they do best, which is to defend and kill each other! The proof of this is right in front of humanity, but do they see or hear? No! Humanity is on the verge of gaining the powers of creation, so don’t expect anything else other than absolute corruption. For humans, getting to the point of being absolutely corrupt is a progression of increasing desolations committed over time until they end up absolutely desolate! In other words, in human hands, power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely!
May 31st, 2006 at 8:22 AM
[...] Regarding nanotech negative misuse, he pointed out to an article in Janes that spoke about an entire new generation of nanotech weapons becoming available, such as “nano-nuclear weapons”, which are “almost impossible to detect”, with the equivalent power of 50 mega-tons of explosives. Nano-satellites called ANGELS were also available as delivery systems for these weapons. He pointed out that, historically, biotechnology led to designer pathogens with both Russia and the US developing these weapons. Nanotech now represents the most effective delivery system for these pathogens ever developed so far. He then mentioned that, from his own experience, the military/Department of Defence are very difficult to control. Global governance and regulations are difficult to enforce, and he believed that how exactly the military could be stopped from developing such technologies was unclear. [...]